"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Stair Master vs Treadmill vs Elliptical

Looking for what is most beneficial to a cyclist when they can't get on the bike. All of these will get the heart thumping but i'm thinking in terms of muscle development. I feel like a stair master (the type with the rotating stairs) is the closest action to a bike.

I hate trainers more than any of these, so i'm trying to avoid them.

The elliptical feels to me like riding a bike with the saddle taken off. You constantly want to sit, but there's no saddle. I've been cross training with one recently, as well as running. My new bike should be here in a few days and then I'll be on the trainer a lot. I'd recommend that you mix it up between each of these. Variety will be good for ya mentally as you sludge on thru the winter. I'd also recommend that you get at least two good trainer sessions per week to keep your training somewhat cycling specific.

I ran exclsuively thru an entire winter and was quite surprised at how well my running fitness quickly adapted and carried over to the bike when the spring rolled around. Conversely, I don't think cycling is as good for runners as running is for cyclists.

Stairmaster. Do 20 min at 85% of year MHR and see how you feel as compared to the Eliptical. They recommend Elipticals for people out of shape or recovering from an injury.

Trainer.

You're a cyclist, not a soccer mom.

:D

Trainer.

You're a cyclist, not a soccer mom.

:D


Yea, good point.

this cant be a real question

C2 rower if you're serious.

trainer.

You're a cyclist, not a soccer mom.

:d

+1

are you at a gym for this question? if so, set up your trainer behind the ellipticals, so you can watch the soccer mom azzes wiggle. it's mezmerizing.

Trainer.

You're a cyclist, not a soccer mom.

:D

Hmm, this is a good point.

There is no faster way to losing bike speed as running. I guess during cross season or the winter running is ok to a point but never run during the season.

man up and ride the trainer. Trainer riding is a lot easier if you have structured workouts. don't hop on the trainer and think you'll just ride an hour, thats just mind numbing. Approach your hour as follows. 15 min warmup. 30 minutes of structured intervals, 15 minute cooldown. Having everything laid out ahead of time makes the time go quicker. Also don't skip out on the warmup and cooldowns. They are just as important as the intervals themselves.

Stair master???

Have you learned anything from your roadie initiation procedures?? :p

Seriously, the best compliment to real cycling is the trainer (or a gym bike). There really is no substitute; all of those other machine work different muscles that don't translate into a direct benefit to your cycling. Heck, doing calisthenics with focus towards your lower body will do you better.

this cant be a real question

Point.

I'd use the trainer if you have one. Just before I bought my trainer I did use the elliptical we have at home on certain days where I could not get out before dark. I thought it did a decent job of keeping me moving and working leg muscles. I just ran through some of the resistance oriented programs on the machine and felt like I had good workout. Better than sitting on the couch watching TV....

Since I've bought my KK Road Machine though I haven't touched the elliptical.

Stair master???

Have you learned anything from your roadie initiation procedures?? :p

Seriously, the best compliment to real cycling is the trainer (or a gym bike). There really is no substitute; all of those other machine work different muscles that don't translate into a direct benefit to your cycling. Heck, doing calisthenics with focus towards your lower body will do you better.

Well, i'm not an idiot. I just can't always get a ride on the bike.

C2 rower if you're serious.

+1

The other three choices are pretty much vanilla.

+1

The other three choices are pretty much vanilla.

I'm not sure my gym has any, i'll have to see...

Hi Tim,
I bought a used Concept Model C (the older one) and love it. I also have a Kurt Kinetics and eagerly await the release of their new computer (it does watts). And I go to the gym.

At the gym, I use the various toys they have that I like.

So what I do is row,pedal,gym. It makes for a simple and effective cross
training schedule.

Hi Tim,
I bought a used Concept Model C (the older one) and love it. I also have a Kurt Kinetics and eagerly await the release of their new computer (it does watts). And I go to the gym.

At the gym, I use the various toys they have that I like.

So what I do is row,pedal,gym. It makes for a simple and effective cross
training schedule.

My main goal is to keep my cardio up. There are other ways to work on the muscles in regards to cycling, nothing is the same, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I WON'T ride my bike in a Chicago Winter. Sorry. Guess that's why i'm slow ;)

I don't blame you. The first year I had my trainer I used it 2 or 3 times. Then I started watching movies and old tv shows while pedaling. I don't mind that.
You have to pick shows that are exciting, and they really need to be somewhere warm and sunny.

Anyway, I only use it once or twice a week, and it's basically just keep the legs spinning.

A lot of used rowers sell very cheaply, and a lot have very little use on them.
You have to learn to row, and it takes a while to get used to it. Most use it a few times and give up. I'm too stupid :)

Xeno Muller has a decent dvd package deal if you get one.

Btw, you are twice as fast as me, and you're gonna get faster.

I WON'T ride my bike in a Chicago Winter.

Hence everyone telling you to ride the trainer. I fail to see how a stair master or treadmill can be more exciting than riding a trainer.

And to paraphrase umd, this is the racing forum isn't it.

;)

There is no faster way to losing bike speed as running.

Evidence?

Timmy, personally I hate the elliptical and stairmaster becuuse it doesn't feel like a natural motion. I would suggest a treadmill. That being said a treadmill comes with its usual caveats of injuries and pain if you havent run in a while.

One of things with cyclists is that we tend to use out hip flexors less and as a result after a season of biking, they will be sore when you start running. you should start off running REAL slow and gradually build intensity.

I am starting to believe that if you can mimic the motions of cycling through resistance or other forms of training that there has to be some benefit. I would think that if you were using a stair machine of some sort you could get close to your Q factor, and then replicate your knee angle fairly closely to match part of your pedal stroke. Also, place your foot on the pads so that your foot hits in the same place that your cleat would contact your pedal.

Riding your trainer would likely be more beneficial, but for sanity and convenience this may be another option. When I travel there are times when I simply can't bring my bike and trainer and many hotels have gotten rid of upright bikes in favor of recumbents. I usually opt for the stair machine as the eliptical's movement in the horizonal plane is much greater than on a bike.

Hence everyone telling you to ride the trainer. I fail to see how a stair master or treadmill can be more exciting than riding a trainer.

And to paraphrase umd, this is the racing forum isn't it.

I never said it was more exciting, but i find it more comfortable and the time goes by quicker. Perhaps my trainer just sucks.

I don't get this forum. You people are something else. I know a trainer would be best. Actually, best would be doing intervals and repeats and 60 mile rides all winter. Like...do i not know that or something? You come to RR and ask a simple question and you get answers that have very little to do with your question.

What would be best, blue gloves or white gloves? Answer: $10,000 would be better.

Well, no crap. Of course a trainer would be better. OF COURSE A TRAINER would be better. Why are we hammering this point?

1. I don't have much room for a trainer
2. I don't have much time for a trainer
2a. I go to the gym to lift weights, i can also fit in 20-30 mins of Cardio before/after work
3. I don't like trainers
4. The trainer i have blows ass
5. I don't live in my own home, if i were to use a trainer it would probably bug the hell out of the rest of the people that live here
6. I don't live in my own home, i'm not sure how they would feel about me bringing my bike inside

Yes, a trainer is better. I know. I know this because i have a brain and it actually does work most the time. A trainer, right, get it...how about we stick to the topic though folks?

One of things with cyclists is that we tend to use out hip flexors less and as a result after a season of biking, they will be sore when you start running. you should start off running REAL slow and gradually build intensity.


I have been on the treadmill a lot in the last 2 months actually. I've already cut about a min off of my mile time. I hate running. It's why i bike....

Running real stairs is one brutal workout. Run up the stairs one at a time for tempo work, interspersed with two stairs at a time sprints. It turns your quads to jello and gets your heartrate into the stratosphere.

I've used the elliptical trainer at my gym a bunch of times. Feels like riding up a hill out of the saddle. I liked it more than any other stationary aerobic training machine, including stationary bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, etc. It's a stand-in if you can't get any other aerobic workout, but if you want to develop any real cycling specific fitness or strength, you'll need rollers or a trainer with a bicycle.

I really do hate riding indoors on a trainer. But it will work to get you quite fit if you can stand it.

Another +1 for rowing. It'll help your core, legs, and upper body as well as cardio.

I also read something about Elliptical trainers being bad for you because it employs too big a range of motion for your knees or something like that. The arc trainer is supposed to be a lot better.

Rollers ;)

I've found that running has helped my "out the saddle" riding. More than likely I'll be racing next year so I'll sprinting on the treadmill while its inclined as one of my workouts.

I've used the elliptical trainer at my gym a bunch of times. Feels like riding up a hill out of the saddle. I liked it more than any other stationary aerobic training machine, including stationary bikes, treadmills, rowing machines, etc. It's a stand-in if you can't get any other aerobic workout, but if you want to develop any real cycling specific fitness or strength, you'll need rollers or a trainer with a bicycle.

I really do hate riding indoors on a trainer. But it will work to get you quite fit if you can stand it.

I find that the elliptical trainer (the nordic one where your arms move also) burns more calories than most other machines in the gym. You can also do intervals on it to. If you lean forward you get a good quad workout.....good for weight loss and cardio in the winter months.

Hey a lot of people here in the north east cross train (i.e. cross country ski) in the winter so seems like it makes sense.

I don't get this forum. You people are something else. I know a trainer would be best. Actually, best would be doing intervals and repeats and 60 mile rides all winter. Like...do i not know that or something? You come to RR and ask a simple question and you get answers that have very little to do with your question.

I think if you had posted this in Road Cycling and not in Racing you'd catch less flack. This is the home of HTFU you know. You say that you're not willing to ride outside and that you won't ride a trainer all winter. I can only hope that my competition takes this approach. :innocent:

I think if you had posted this in Road Cycling and not in Racing you'd catch less flack. This is the home of HTFU you know. You say that you're not willing to ride outside and that you won't ride a trainer all winter. I can only hope that my competition takes this approach. :innocent:

Where did i say that i wouldn't ride a trainer?

Where did i say that i wouldn't ride a trainer?




I hate trainers more than any of these, so i'm trying to avoid them.

I stand corrected, you're just avoiding them. :rolleyes:

I stand corrected, you're just avoiding them. :rolleyes:

Exactly. I spent an hour on it two nights ago. Lets get back on topic, mmk?

I never said it was more exciting, but i find it more comfortable and the time goes by quicker. Perhaps my trainer just sucks.

I don't get this forum. You people are something else. I know a trainer would be best. Actually, best would be doing intervals and repeats and 60 mile rides all winter. Like...do i not know that or something? You come to RR and ask a simple question and you get answers that have very little to do with your question.

What would be best, blue gloves or white gloves? Answer: $10,000 would be better.

Well, no crap. Of course a trainer would be better. OF COURSE A TRAINER would be better. Why are we hammering this point?

1. I don't have much room for a trainer
2. I don't have much time for a trainer
2a. I go to the gym to lift weights, i can also fit in 20-30 mins of Cardio before/after work
3. I don't like trainers
4. The trainer i have blows ass
5. I don't live in my own home, if i were to use a trainer it would probably bug the hell out of the rest of the people that live here
6. I don't live in my own home, i'm not sure how they would feel about me bringing my bike inside

Yes, a trainer is better. I know. I know this because i have a brain and it actually does work most the time. A trainer, right, get it...how about we stick to the topic though folks?

wow, this thread, and this post in particular has much potential. you're a pisser timmyq.